Ray Di Pasquale began serving his first term as president of the Community College of Rhode Island on July 1, 2006, following his selection by the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. In January 2010, Mr. Di Pasquale assumed a dual role when he was named commissioner of higher education for the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, which became the Rhode Island Board of Education in January 2013. Mr. Di Pasquale concluded his term as commissioner in August 2013.

 

Since Mr. Di Pasquale arrived at CCRI, the college has enjoyed near-record enrollments and had its largest graduating class ever in May 2012. CCRI is the largest community college in New England, serving nearly 18,000 students each semester, and its noncredit arm trains more than 30,000 Rhode Islanders annually, making it an important cog in the state’s workforce development efforts. Under Mr. Di Pasquale’s direction, the college has added numerous programs and courses, instituted energy cost-saving projects, expanded career pathway programs, has been the recipient of numerous federal grants, and has focused on adult learners. He also spearheaded the college’s first capital campaign, which raised more than $5 million.

 

Prior to coming to Rhode Island, Mr. Di Pasquale was vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at the State University of New York’s SUNY College at Brockport in Brockport, NY. He served in this capacity from 1998 to 2006. He also served in a number of leadership positions at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Springfield, Mass., from 1979 to 1998. He began his career in higher education at Middlesex Community College, where he served from 1974 to 1979. Mr. Di Pasquale holds a master’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston and a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Tech University.

           

His community and professional associations have included or presently include the following: leadership positions with the Task Force on the Education of Children and Youth in the Care of the Department of Children, Youth and Families; the Special Legislative Commission on Defense Economy Planning, the Governor’s Workforce Board Executive Committee; chair of the Governor’s Workforce Board Adult Education and Literacy Committee; the Governor’s Workforce Board Youth Development Committee; the Governor’s Workforce Board Career Pathways System Task Force; the Governor’s PK-12 Council; the State Higher Education Executive Officers; the Rhode Island Campus Compact Executive Committee; the Met School Board; and he was a member of the Governor’s Cabinet; the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council and the Governor’s Economic Development Planning Committee; the Board of Directors of the New England College Council, the College Board Regional Community College Advisory Committee; the Board of Directors for the Newport Chamber of Commerce; the National Association of System Heads and is a Kent Hospital Incorporator. In March of 2013, Mr. Di Pasquale received the Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement from the New England Board of Higher Education.